License tag



June 13, 1933. B. LESLIE 1,913,891

LICENSE vTAG BY Zr Vine QLBQZIIB ATTORNEYS l. B. LsLlE LICENSE TAG June 13, 1933.

Filed Deo. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nm mw E m p M E INVENTOR Irvine B.Leslie.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, 1933 PATENT OFFICE IBVI'N' B.r LESLIE, 0F NEWBERY, SOUTH CAROLINA LIcENsE TAG' Application led December 13, 1932. SerialNo. 647,046.

This invention relates to improvements in license tags for vehicles, especially automobiles, and its objects are as follows First, to provide a license tag of the relatively permanent type which is adapted to be relegalized from period to period, that is to say, a license tag of which the main body is intended to be aflixed tothe vehicle and rendered active, so to speak, by the alxation of an auxiliary plate, the arrangement being such ,that in the event of an attempt to pry said plate loose there will be such a mutilation of adjoining parts of the main body that the attempt will at once be apparent.

Second, to provide a license tag of the foregoing relatively permanent type for which itis intended to issue auxiliary legalizing plates for shorter periods than generally contemplated at the present time, that is to say, instead of legalizing a tag for twelve-month periods the tag may be legalized for six or three month periods, or others if that be desired.

Third, to provide a license tag which is. made with an opening to receive the marginal tabs of an auxiliary legalizing plate, said tabs being bent upon themselves when finally positioned in the opening so as to preserve and even exceed the original strength of the main body of the tag.

Fourth, to provide an auxiliary legalizing plate of a small size relatively to the main body, said plate having marginal tabs so bent .as to reinforce said plate and render the latter rigid enough to prevent its buckling, said tabs being used as the sole interlocks of the plate with .the main body in some instances, and in others being provided with lugs for locking the plate to the'body to a modified degree.

Fifth, to perforate the main body of the tag at places adjacent to the sides of said opening so as to result in a more apparentl mutilation of the body in the region of said opening in the event an attempt is made to pry the auxiliary legali'zing plate loose, thereby making it evident to even a causal observer that the tag has been tampered with, possibly by some unauthorized i person.

Sixth, to provide a license tag in which one of the modes of affxing an auxiliary legal- 1z1ng plate comprises the provision of double or companion lugs which are adapted to be inserted through perforations in the plate and bent 1n opopsite directions, certain ones of the lugs belng bent over the sides of the opemng over which said plate is litted so as to lock the auxiliary plate in place and insure against its rattling. l

Seventh, to employ in connection with a license tag a system of indexing whereby the various separate components of the tag are identified with each other by die stampings or other markings so that when all of the identifying marks agree the evidence will beA that the tag as a whole is correct and legalain every respect.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the main body of the improved license plate, particularly illustrating one of a variable type of -`openings with which auxiliary legalizing plates are combined, as well as the perforations adjoining the sides of said openings Afor receiving certain securing means.

y Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same plate showing it in its complete form, the auxiliary legalizing plates having been applied and the system of indexing having been carried out.

Figpre 3 is a rear elevation of thelplate in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the license tag illustrating a modified adaptation of the principles illust-rated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of one of the types of legalizing pla-tes illustrating one of the modes of stamping or otherwise marking in the event of carrying out the plan of shortlfperiod legalization.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of one of the types of legalizing plates, for example the type shown in Figure 5, particularly illustrating the reinforcement thereof" by the bent marginal tabs. o

Figure 7 is a front elevation of another type of legalizing plate.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the plate in f opening 5 is in the shape of a long slot.

Figure 7 showing the marginal tabs in a variety of bent positions.

Figure 9 is a composite View illustrating the positions of the auxiliary legalizing plates with reference to the main body of the tag as though appearing to affix the former, the

structure of the main body appearing as` viewed on the section line 9-9 of Figure l.

Figure 10 is a cross section of the com* pletely assembled tag taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 2.

As previously stated, the general type of the instant license tag is that in which a main body is intended to be aixed to the vehicle and remain practically for the entire life thereof, said tag being relegalized from year to year by the addition of new auxiliary plates or other authenticating indicia. This general principle is modified by a number of improvements which have been briefly stated and which are now enlarged upon as :tollows ll'n Figure 1 the main body 1 of the tag carries a series of numbers 2 or other identifying marks which, in practice, may be embossed, painted or otherwise applied. The body 1 has holes 3, either round or slotted for the purpose of receiving the customary fastening bolts by which the tag is secured to a su porton the vehicle.

penings 4, 5 are made in the mainbody 1. 'llheseA openings may be of various shapes and sizes, and are capable of being variously located with reference to each other as will be seen by a comparison of Figures 1 and 4. ln the instance of Figure 1 the opening 4 is of a relatively small rectangular size while the For the time being a description of the opening 4 and the auxiliary legalizing plate 6 (Figs. 2 and 7) for use in connection therewith will suffice.

The opening 4 occurs in the bottom of a depressed place 7 in the face of the body 1. The arrangement leaves a marginal ledge 8 on which the periphery of the plate 6 rests when the latter is seated in the depressed place. At that time the outer surface of the plate 6 is flush. or substantially so with the outer face of the body 1. The ledge 8 has rperforations 9 in the shape of slots butnot necessarily so because other configurations will serve the purpose as well.

Marginal tabs 10 are provided on all sides of the auxiliary plate 6 (Fig. 8), in other words, are coextensive with the margin of the plate. These are first bent over parallel with the back of the plate. This bending over is illustrated on all four sides of the plate 6 in Figure 8. The tabs are then again bent, for example, along the line 11 (Fig. 8), the free parts being inserted through the opening 4 and then bent outwardly along the back of the plate 1 so as to form an interlock. i

This interlocking relationship is illustrated at the right of Figure 3. rlhe tabs 10 are substantially co-extensive with the sides of the opening 4. This being the case, they reinforce the sides of the opening. By virtue of the fact that the tabs are bent back on the auxiliary plate 6 and then doubled upon themselves as in Figure 3 it follows that the strength of the main. body of the tag is not only preserved but is actually exceeded..

llt is to be understood that the auxiliary plate 6 is to remain in position on the main body 1. This ,plate is herein known as .a classification plate. For that purpose it carries a letter or other indiciawhich identifies the class of the vehicle to which the instant tag is applied. inasmuch as the class does not Vary it follows that the auxiliary plate 6 must remain as a permanent fixture on the main body 1.

It is anticipated that certain persons might have a purpose in perverting the use of the license tag and to that end remove the auxiliary or classification plate 6. In order to accomplish that purpose it would be necessary to force the free parts of the tabs 10 (Fig. 3) into a perpendicular position so that they can be slipped out of the opening 4. lt is likely that some prying instrument, for example a screw driver will be used for the purpose, and lin that case the point of the screw driver will bear down on the parts of the ledge 8 adjacent to the perforations 9 and bend and mutilate the metal in such a way that it will be apparent to anyone making an investigation that the tag has been tampered with. This should raise a question as to the authenticity of the auxiliary plate 6.

Generally, the foregoing description applies to an auxiliary legalizing plate of a different type. The plate now in mind is the elongated plate 12,(Fig. 2). This plate cov-` ers the opening 5, and the latter, like the opening 4, is surrounded by a depressed place 13 forming a marginal ledge 14 (Fig. l). This ledge has perforations 15, but these are for a purpose different from that of the perforations 9. At this point it is desired to give the openings 4, 5 and the perforations 15 the generic designation of apertures for the reason that each of the two kinds of plates 6 and 12, 12a has a projecting portion to extend through an aperture of the respective kind to interlock with the main body.

Instead of furthering the mutilation of the sides of the opening, the perforations 15 are intended to receive double or companion lugs 16 (Figs. 3 and 6) carried by the plate 12. rlhese lugs are actually struck 'up from marginal and marginally coextensive tabs 17 (Fig. 6) along the four sides of the plate 12. The tabs 10 of the plate 6 (Fig. 8) and tabs 17 of the plate 12 are identical. ln each case they are bent back to reinforce the plate. The sides are not left unsupported, the tabs its serving to rigidify the plate as is readily understood. The distinction between the two plates resides in the lugs 16. These are inserted in the perforations 15 (Fig. 3) and they are bent in opposite directions. This, alone, would serve to hold the plate 12 in place rather firmly, but the innermost lugs are intended to be bent slightly under the sides l0 of the opening 5 so as to make a very durable lock and one that will insure against the rattling of the plate 12.

Ordinarily the prevailing practice of renewing the license tag from year to vyear will ,15 be carried out. In the present instance tliis will be done by issuing new legalizing plates 12. This plate will be stamped or otherwise marked at 18 with the date of the legal period of the plate 12. But it is herein contem- 20 plated to vary from this custom by making the stamping 18 variable so that the plate 12 may be issued for periods shorter than one ear.

y Figure 5'is intended to illustrate the idea. Here a similar stamping 19 designates the expiration date of a relatively short period,

-say three months. When the date given is reached it will be necessary for the owner of the vehicle to purchase another plate 12 for a similar or longer period. From a manufacturing and dispensing standpoint the plates 12 can be provided at an insignificant cost. From the standpoint of the licensee the issuance of legalizing plates for short periods is a great convenience.

There are some states in which a vehicle license fee is very high, so high, in fact, that it becomes prohibitive to use. the vehicle. It is contemplated to make it possible for persons in such states to split up, so to speak, the license fee into small payments which can be made with relative ease. There will be no need for such persons to store their-vehicles because of the burden of a heavy license tax. As already brought out, the illustration in Figure 5 is intended to show how the license tag can be revalidated from time to time by the issuance of new legalizing plates 12 in the successive ones of rwhich the date stamp,- ings 19 will be variable.

In order tov facilitate identification of the plates 12 for the various short periods it is intended to issue them in contrasting colors, that is to say, colors which will contrast with the main body 1. For example, if red is adopted for the second quarter of ayear an observer will know that the plate 12 is out of date-should it be of the color previously adopted for the first quarter. v

In order to add a further precaution against the dismemberment and consequent invalidation of the license tag its components are organized by what might be called al system of indexing. This works on the following plan The main body'l is provided with issuance of the tag, will be stamped with a y corresponding symbol. The obvious purpose of thisvsystem is that all of the components of the tag shall agree. One component `will be identied with the other, and if there is any variance in the symbols on the plate 6 and the plates 21, -22 the. indication will be that the -tag has been tampered with and therefore is invalid.

All of the foregoing principles are incorporated in the modification in Figure 4. Here the plates 6 and 12 are in relatively diderent positions. The plate 6a carries a symbol which may be regarded as a part of the serial number of the tag instead of the designation of the classification of the ve- 4 hicle as before. Regardless of this differencethe mode of. aflixation of the plate 6, as Well as of the plate 12, is to be regarded as identical with the showing in Figure 3.

Briefly reviewing the foregoing description, it will be understood that the main body 1 in its original form will appear to be as shown in Figure 1. The openings 4, 5 will be uncovered. Upon the issuance of the tag for a given vehicle a plate 6 bearing the proper classification symbol will be aliixed with the idea of permanency. Should an attempt be made later to remove this plate, the act of raising the free parts of the marginal tabs 10 (Fig. 3) will so mutilate the ledge 8 and theadjacent parts of the body 1 that the unlawful attempt will show by the appearance of the tag.

The plate 12 will also be aiiixed at the time of issuance of the tag. This plate legalizes the tag for the period of a year or for lesser periods as brought out in connection `with Figure 5. In each instance the auxiliary legalizing plate covers an opening in the main body 1. In the case of the plate 6 the opening- 4 is an absolute necessity because of the requirement to-bring the free parts of the marginal tabs 10 through and bend them over on back. In the instance of the plate 12' the opening 5 is also a necessity insofar as the bending under of the innermost lugs 16 is' concerned. But this feature may be dispensed with in case it should be desired to merely bend the innermost lugs down against the flat back of the body.

A common feature in the structure of the plates 6, 12 is the provision of the marginal tabs.' These not only reinforce the plates themselves but reinforce the main body 1 around the sides of the respective openings. In each case the marginal tabs have projecting portions which interlock with the main body. In the instance of the plate 6 the socalled free parts go through the opening 4 and are bent down hard against the back of the main body. In the instance of the plate 12 the lugs 16 go through the perforations l5 and are bent down hard against the back of the main body. Generally speaking, the openings 4 and perforations 15 are openings in the sense that they receive the projecting portions and tabs of they plates for the purpose of securement. i

I claim 1. A license tag comprising a main body having perfor-ations, an auxiliary plate to be affixed to said body, and means for afiixing said plate comprising continuous tabs extending coextensive with and along the sides of the plate being bent over against the plate for a reinforcement lof the sides, said tabs having prdjecting portions extending through the perforations and bent hard against said main body.

2. A license tag comprisinga main body having an aperture, an auxiliary plate to be affixed to said body, a marginal reinforcing structure on said plate coextensive With the margin of said plate, and a portion projecting from said 'reinforcing structure extending through said aperture and interlocking With the main body on the back thereof.

3. In a license tag, a main body having a relatively large opening, an auxiliary plate to be affixed to the body over said opening, and tabs on two sides of the plate bent over against the plate. said tabs having free portions extending through the openin-g and being contacted with the back of the main body to form a lock, said portions being substantially coextensive With the respective side of the opening.

4. A license tag comprising a main body having a depressed place and a relatively large opening in said place defining a ledge, said ledge having perforations, an auxiliary plate seated in the depression on said ledge and covering said perforations from one side,

ind securing means on the plate extending through the opening and covering said perforations from the other side, said perforations insuring mutilation of portions of the ledge and body upon an attempt to pry the securing means loose.

5. In a license tag, amain body having a depressed portion, said depressed portion having a relatively large opening defining a surrounding ledge, said ledge having a plurality of perforations, said perforations being sol constructed and positioned as to insure mutilation of the ledge upon prying at a plate seated in the depressed portion.

6. In a license tag, a main body having a depressed portion, said depressed portlon having a relatively large opening defining a surrounding ledge, said ledge having a plurality of perforations, an auxiliar plate seated in the depression on said le ge, and securingmeans integral with and extending from the margin of the auxiliary plate, said securing means bein inserted `through said perforations and ma ing tight Contact with the back of the body to form a lock. v

7. In a license tag, a main body having a depressed portion, said depressed portion having a relatively large opening defining a surrounding ledge, said ledge having a plurality. of perforations, an auxiliary plate seated in the depression on said ledge, and securing means inserted through said perforations and making tight contact with the back of the body to form a lock, said securing means including double lugs bent in opposite directions to make said Contact, one of the lugs being bent over the adjacent side of the opening.

8. A license tag comprising a main body having a pair of relatively large openings,

4said body having perforations around the sides of one of the openings, a pair of plates affixed to the body, each of the plates having marginal tabs bent upon themselves for reinforcement, and projections in continuation of said-marginal tabs, the projections of one of the plates occupying one of the openings and being bent back upon the body, the projections of the tabs of the other plate extending through the perforations and being bent into locking positions.

9. A license tag comprising a main body having perforations, said body also having permanent indicia and being of a permanent color, an auxiliary plate to be affixed to said body, said plate having legalizing indicia including a date marking representing fractional periods of a year, said plate being of a color contrasting with that of the main body and of a color distinguishing the period represented by said date marking, a marginal reinforcing structure on and coextensive with the margin of said plate, and portions projecting from said structure extending through said perforations and interlocking with the main body on the back thereof.5

10. A license tag comprising a main bodyv having apertures and permanent indicia, a pair of legalizing plates one of Whichy has ya classifying symbol, initially unmarked portions arranged on the remaining plate and on the main body adapted. to be marked with a symbol corresponding with the classifying symbol, marginal reinforcing structure on and coextensive With the margins of said plates, and portions projecting from said structure extending through said apertures and interlocking with the main body on the back thereof.

IRVINE B. LESLIE. 

